France reopens embassy in Libya

PARIS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- France on Monday reopened its embassy in Libyan capital Tripoli, after closing the site for nearly six months, a spokesman of the French foreign ministry said.

"The embassy of France in Tripoli is opened today," Bernard Valero said a week after the former pro-Gaddafi force's stronghold fell to rebel hands.

The spokesman added that a French special envoy to Libyan rebel-led authority National Transition Council (NTC), Antoine Sivan, would be in Tripoli when the NTC leadership moves to the capital.

Paris closed its embassy in Libya and recalled all its diplomatic staff back home in February this year, due to the deterioration of security situation in Libya.

France initiated air strikes of the coalition forces against Gaddafi's troops in March, and was the first world power to recognize the NTC as representative of Libya.

A high-level meeting of the contact group on Libya is due in Paris this Thursday, to discuss the roadmap of how to build a new and democratic Libya, as Libyan rebels continue their hunt for Gaddafi and his followers.